In Her Own Words is a collection of stories, journals, letters and articles that chronicle the life of Virginia Mae Kerr Hoepner Sinclair. The book is a memoir of growing up in Iowa during the Great Depression; a looking back at childhood from the perspective of adult memory. The book continues with stories reflecting on the author's role as wife, mother, grandmother,and career woman, her transformation following a trip to Africa, and her subsequent role as mentor and activist.